Republican Presidents and the Safety Net

From Moderation to Backlash

Matthew Gritter

Republican presidents have navigated between popular programs and conservative supporters since the Eisenhower administration, and since the New Deal, Republican presidents have looked for ways to accommodate rather than abolish the federal social safety net. Yet moderation often led to a backlash from their conservative supporters, leading Republican presidents to move from accommodation to opposition. Richard Nixon went from proposing innovative policies to vetoing comprehensive child care legislation. George W. Bush’s compassionate conservatism was jettisoned for an attempt at Social Security reform. In From Moderation to Backlash, each Republican president since the New Deal is explored with a particular focus on the third rail of American politics: Social Security. « lessmore »

Chapter 4 Compassionate Conservatism: George W. Bush and the Conservative Welfare State

Chapter 5 Trumpism?: Making the Safety Net Great Again

Mathew Gritter's study of Republican presidents and the welfare state is an insightful and timely book on an important and understudied topic.— David Stebenne, Ohio State University

Republican Presidents and the Safety Net is a well-researched and carefully written study that makes a significant contribution to understanding how presidential leadership has influenced the evolution of social safety policies in the United States. It will be essential reading for scholars and policymakers alike.— Meena Bose, Hofstra University

Republican Presidents and the Safety Net

From Moderation to Backlash

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Summary

Summary

Republican presidents have navigated between popular programs and conservative supporters since the Eisenhower administration, and since the New Deal, Republican presidents have looked for ways to accommodate rather than abolish the federal social safety net. Yet moderation often led to a backlash from their conservative supporters, leading Republican presidents to move from accommodation to opposition. Richard Nixon went from proposing innovative policies to vetoing comprehensive child care legislation. George W. Bush’s compassionate conservatism was jettisoned for an attempt at Social Security reform. In From Moderation to Backlash, each Republican president since the New Deal is explored with a particular focus on the third rail of American politics: Social Security.

Chapter 4 Compassionate Conservatism: George W. Bush and the Conservative Welfare State

Chapter 5 Trumpism?: Making the Safety Net Great Again

Reviews

Reviews

Mathew Gritter's study of Republican presidents and the welfare state is an insightful and timely book on an important and understudied topic.— David Stebenne, Ohio State University

Republican Presidents and the Safety Net is a well-researched and carefully written study that makes a significant contribution to understanding how presidential leadership has influenced the evolution of social safety policies in the United States. It will be essential reading for scholars and policymakers alike.— Meena Bose, Hofstra University